London Assembly Press Releases

The Mayor could help children in care in London through a campaign to recruit more foster carers and help promote best practice across the capital, experts have told the London Assembly^[1].

The Assembly’s Health and Public Services Committee was told how London, like the rest of the UK, has a shortage of foster carers^[2].

Local Assembly Member John Biggs is asking local residents to tell him about their experiences of the 25 bus route. The call follows the revelation that it is the fourth most complained about of London's 700 bus routes.

 The 25 route that runs between Oxford Circus and Ilford via Stratford received no less than 33 complaints in four weeks.

  Local London Assembly member, John Biggs said:

London has more than 10,000 children in care, with rates in the capital above the national average. Is there a case for the Mayor taking a role in improving the prospects of these children?

Evidence shows that features of the care system can make it harder for children in foster care, children’s homes and residential schools to succeed^[1]. In London, their experiences also vary widely depending on where they live.

Public meetings and report launches coming up next week:

Tuesday 7 February 2012
2012 skills and employment
Economy, Culture and Sport Committee – 10am in Committee Room 5
The Committee will question the following guests about the skills and employment opportunities for Londoners during the Games:

Abstract: New figures fail to support Mayor’s claim that cycle safety has improved in the last few years.

 Newly published official figures show that whilst cycling in London is safer than it was in 2000, the trend has reversed since around 2007/08. The annual casualty figures where already known, but the Travel in London report has now issued revised figures for the number of cycle journey stages per day, broken down by each year since 2000.

The Mayor still has a considerable distance to go if he is to deliver on his aim to see 100,000 electric vehicles on the streets of London, a new report from the London Assembly says today^[1].

Charging Ahead?, by the Assembly’s Environment Committee, says progress has been made since 2009, when the Mayor committed to making London the electric car capital of Europe^[2], but he faces a formidable challenge ahead to achieve his targets.

Abstract: Jenny Jones has welcomed the Met Commissioner’s admission that only 6% of stop and searches lead to an arrest and called for reforms that will improve community relations

 The Metropolitan Police Commissioner today set out plans for a new approach to stop and search. The Commissioner commented that 6% of stop and searches in London result in an arrest.

 Responding to the comments Jenny Jones AM said: 

Abstract: Many LU open platform stations and depots still lack switches to turn off lights and save energy

 Darren Johnson has accused the Mayor of London of dragging his feet by failing to install light switches in Stratford Station and many other London Underground stations, meaning that lights are left on during the day time, over two years after the problem was first brought to his attention.

 Darren commented,